Game preview: Thunder look for third straight win

The Langley Thunder are hoping the third time’s the charm.

Twice this season, the Senior A lacrosse team has come up short in their quest for victory when matched up against the Coquitlam Adanacs. Back on June 12, the Adanacs were 11-5 winners while most recently (July 3), the teams played to an 8-8 tie game. Both of those were played at Langley Events Centre and the teams will conclude their season series tonight (July 13) at the Coquitlam Sports Centre at 7:00pm.

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Following that loss in mid-June, the Thunder sported a record of 1-5, but the team has turned things around since then, going 5-1-1 in their next seven to climb into second place in the Western Lacrosse Association standings at 6-6-1 and 13 points. Coquitlam enters the game at 5-7-1 with their 11 points placing them in the fourth and final playoff spot as the regular season hits the stretch drive.

This game will be Langley’s third straight road contest with the Thunder winning the first two, defeating Nanaimo 12-8 on July 7 and New Westminster 15-11 on July 11 behind a five-goal, eight-point night from Robert Church. Connor Robinson (3-3) and Chase Scanlan (3-1) each added hat tricks in the victory with Aden Walsh stopping 51 of the 62 shots he faced.

Scanlan leads Langley in all three statistical categories with 29 goals, 26 assists and 55 points, suiting up in all 13 games while Robinson leads all Langley players in points per game (5.0), racking up six goals and 20 points in just four games. Church is averaging 4.4 points per game with 37 points in seven games and his 14 goals are tied for second with Charles Scanlan (14-24) and Clay Scanlan (14-18).

The Adanacs were winless (0-3-1) in their last four before winning a tight defensive battle, prevailing 6-3 over the Maple Ridge Burrards on July 7 with Andrew Gallant stopping 48 of 51 shots.

Gallant and Walsh have been the two busiest goalies in the WLA as they sit one-two in total saves with 534 for Gallant and 533 for Walsh.

Adam Noakes and Clark Walter are tied for the lead in goals for Coquitlam with 16 apiece while Tyler Kirkby leads in both assists (32) and points (46).

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